US 12,276,463 B2
Methods and systems and apparatus to support reduced energy and water usage
Peter Konowalczyk, London (GB)
Appl. No. 18/264,389
Filed by OCTOPUS ENERGY HEATING LIMITED, London (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/051049
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 4, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/168022, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 11, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2101678 (GB), filed on Feb. 7, 2021; application No. 2109593 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; application No. 2109594 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; application No. 2109596 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; application No. 2109597 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; application No. 2109598 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; application No. 2109599 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021; and application No. 2109600 (GB), filed on Jul. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044520 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. F24D 17/02 (2006.01); F24D 11/00 (2022.01); F24D 11/02 (2006.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01); F24H 15/212 (2022.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/31 (2022.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01); F28D 20/02 (2006.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC F28D 20/0034 (2013.01) [F24D 11/003 (2013.01); F24D 11/02 (2013.01); F24D 17/02 (2013.01); F24D 19/1054 (2013.01); F24H 15/212 (2022.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/31 (2022.01); F28D 20/021 (2013.01); G05D 7/0682 (2013.01); F24D 2200/08 (2013.01); F24D 2200/12 (2013.01); F24D 2200/14 (2013.01); F24D 2220/042 (2013.01); F24D 2220/044 (2013.01); F24D 2220/10 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0078 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0082 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An installation comprising:
an in-building hot water supply system;
a heat pump arranged to heat water in the hot water supply system;
an energy storage arrangement containing a mass of energy storage medium having enough heat capacity to heat to a predetermined temperature a predetermined quantity of water in an interval from the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system until at least the heat pump begins to heat water in the hot water supply system;
a heat exchanger coupled between the hot water supply system and the heat pump and arranged to exchange heat from liquid heated by the heat pump to heat water in the hot water supply system;
a processor to provide a signal to the heat pump based on the opening of the outlet of the hot water supply system;
an instantaneous water heater in the flow path to the outlet of the hot water supply system, the instantaneous water heater being controlled by the processor based on information about the status of the energy storage arrangement and of the heat pump; and
a temperature transducer in a flow path for water in the hot water supply system intermediate the heat exchanger and the instantaneous water heater;
wherein the processor is configured to sense the opening of the outlet of the hot water supply system and, based on a sensed hot water flow rate, determine a type of the outlet whose opening has been sensed, and, based on the sensed hot water flow rate, the determined type of the outlet whose opening has been sensed, the status of the energy storage arrangement and the status of the heat pump, determine whether to provide a start signal to the heat pump; and
wherein the processor is configured to rely preferentially on the energy storage arrangement and then the heat pump to provide sufficient hot water to the outlet of the hot water supply system.